Becoming a Dental Hygienist in Missouri
Dental hygiene is a rapidly growing field in which trained, licensed specialists perform services such as teeth cleaning, dental x-rays and oral health examinations, among other job duties. Dental hygienists in Missouri generally work daytime hours during the week in offices with other dental professionals or individually. To enter this field, students in Missouri should learn about the state’s requirements for becoming a licensed dental hygienist.
Requirements for Dental Hygienists in Missouri
In order to become a dental hygienist in Missouri, you must obtain licensure through the Missouri Dental Board. The process includes education in an accredited program and the satisfactory passing of national, regional and state exams.
Dental Hygienist Schools in Missouri
The first step to a career in dental hygiene is to enroll in a school accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA) Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Popular dental hygiene schools in Missouri include:
- Missouri Southern State University (MSSU). Students at this school can complete an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene with the completion of 90 credit hours over a two year-period. To apply to this program, prospective students must first complete prerequisite college courses including: Communications, English 101, Intermediate Algebra, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Microbiology with grades of “C” or higher. Once in the program, students must maintain at least a “C” average in dental hygiene classes in order to continue and complete study.
- North Central Missouri College (NCMC). Students who wish to pursue this Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene program complete their first year of prerequisite classes at the NCMC campus in Trenton, Missouri. Then, if accepted into the dental hygiene program, students transfer to Hillyard Technical Center (HTC) in St. Joseph, Missouri, where they complete the core dental hygiene courses within 22 months. The dental hygiene degree will then be granted by NCMC to students who complete the program successfully.
You find information on dental assistant schools in Missouri here.
Dental Hygienist License in Missouri
In order to become a licensed dental hygienist in Missouri, applicants must demonstrate to the Missouri Dental Board that they have completed the following steps:
- Completed a CODA accredited training program
- Earned certification in the American Heart Association’s Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider training
- Passed the National Board of Health Dental Hygiene Examination with a score of at least 80 percent
- Passed one of the state-approved clinical regional exams administered by either the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), Council of Interstate Testing Agencies, Inc. (CITA), Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) or Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)
- Passed a written jurisprudence exam covering Missouri dental laws and rules, administered by the Missouri Dental Board, with a score of at least 80 percent.
After completing the above steps, a dental hygienist may be granted their license by Missouri and be titled Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).
Dental Hygienist Salary in Missouri
In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 4,040 dental hygienists were employed in the state of Missouri. The number employed is projected to grow 11 percent in the ten years to 2028, meaning that the field of dental hygiene is expanding rapidly in this state.
In 2020, Missouri dental hygienists earned a mean salary of $33.80 per hour or $70,310 annually. This is a strong income for a career that requires only a two-year associate’s degree. Conditions in your area may vary.
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | 50 | $31.92 | $66,380 |
| Columbia, MO | 130 | $40.12 | $83,450 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 330 | $30.56 | $63,570 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | 250 | $35.03 | $72,870 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 110 | $34.44 | $71,640 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 110 | $37.65 | $78,310 |
| Joplin, MO | 140 | $33.08 | $68,800 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1650 | $34.70 | $72,180 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2480 | $31.31 | $65,120 |
| Springfield, MO | 110 | $38.27 | $79,610 |
Working as a Dental Hygienist in Missouri
If you’re wondering where the best places are in Missouri to work as a dental hygienist, you might note that in 2019, St. Louis and Kansas City employed dental hygienists at the highest rates in the state. The higher-paid Missouri dental hygienists were found in Springfield, St. Joseph and Columbia that same year. With so many jobs opening and excellent career benefits available, the career path of dental hygiene is a great road to opportunity for those in Missouri who are looking for a rewarding job.
College Listings
| School | Type | Tuition and fees per year | Net price per year | Dental Hygiene programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO(816) 531-5223930 Carondelet DriveAccredited by Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |
Private for-profit | not published | $27,936 to $31,448by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MO(866) 818-67783950 E. Newman RoadAccredited by Higher Learning Commission |
Public | $8,9602024-25 | $9,021 to $15,196by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Ozarks Technical Community CollegeSpringfield, MO(417) 447-75001001 E. Chestnut ExpresswayAccredited by Higher Learning Commission |
Public | $5,7442024-25 | $5,952 to $12,412by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Saint Louis Community CollegeBridgeton, MO(314) 539-50053221 McKelvey RoadAccredited by Higher Learning Commission |
Public | $5,1302024-25 | $5,718 to $11,180by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
State Fair Community CollegeSedalia, MO(877) 311-73223201 W 16th StreetAccredited by Higher Learning Commission |
Public | $5,7842024-25 | $6,873 to $9,039by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
University of Missouri-Kansas CityKansas City, MO(816) 235-10005000 Holmes St.Accredited by Higher Learning Commission |
Public | $12,5872024-25 | $9,214 to $20,762by family income, 2022-23. Calculate your own net price |
|
Tuition and fees are from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) for the year shown. Net price is the range of the average net prices each school published for different family incomes, from CareerSpy; it covers first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, so yours may differ. Schools that have closed are not listed.
Related Links
How to Become a Dentist in Missouri
Cursos de Higienista Dental en Missouri